Provincial funding has yet to be secured for a nearly completed permanent supportive housing project in the city’s north end, though there is optimism that won’t be the situation for long.
That money is needed in order for the publicly discussed plan for 10 Shelldale Cres. – a 32-unit permanent supportive housing project, with 24-hour support services – to become a reality.
“We continue to work with our local health partners. We have a great relationship with them. We’re confident in the work they are doing quickly and effectively with our provincial partners around the operational funding,” said Daria Allan-Ebron, chief executive officer of Kindle Communities, which owns the building. “We have a lot of confidence it’s moving in the right direction.”
Guelph Community Health Centre has been tapped to provide a variety of wraparound services for residents, alongside Stonehenge Therapeutic Community.
Initially, the project was expected to be ready to welcome people experiencing chronic homelessness as residents last fall, around the same time completion of the building was expected.
Allan-Ebron now anticipates completion this coming April.
“We’re in the home stretch,” she said. “I’m so looking forward to welcoming residents to the building. We’re working behind the scenes preparing for that opening.”
The Kindle Communities initiative has received funding from various levels of government for construction, in addition to a public fundraising campaign.
It’s to include 32 bachelor units, including eight accessible units, on the top four levels, with common amenity space and an office area on the ground floor.
The project broke ground in September of 2022. City council approved zoning amendments needed for the project in May of 2021.
Land for the project was donated by Skyline Group of Companies and Starlight Investments, which contributed space behind apartments 85 and 89 Willow Rd.